Disk Drive Prices (1955-2008)

In general, these are the lowest priced disk drives for which I could find prices at the time. The floppy drives are not the lowest price per capacity. Floppies are included because they set a new new unit price, making disk drives accessible to the masses. Flash memory provides a solid state alternative to disk drives, although at a greater cost per megabyte.

Graph of Disk Drive Prices Decreasing Through Time Home

X Y Year Month Ref: page Sales Company Manufacturer Model Size Type Access time Size Cost
date US$/MB inches msec MBytes US$
1955.00 6233.33 1955 Phister 67 IBM IBM 355-2 24" single head 12 74800
1960.00 3600.00 1960 Phister 67 IBM IBM 1405-1 24" single head 625.0 10 36000
1964.00 3518.62 1964 Phister 67 IBM IBM 2311-1 14" removeable 97.5 7.25 25510
1966.00 1047.26 1966 Phister 67 IBM IBM 2314 14" pack 20 surface 87.5 29.176 30555
1970.00 259.70 1970 Phister 67 IBM IBM 3330-1 14" improved 38.3 100 25970
1973.00 2550.00 1973 Jan DEC DEC PDP8/e End User Price List RK05 cartridge 2.4 6120
1974.00 185.00 1974 Phister 67 IBM IBM 3330-II 14" further improved 38.3 200 37000
1975.00 11377.78 1975 ? North Star Shugart 90K 3.5"FH floppy 0.0879 1000
1979.00 3009.42 1979 Jan I.A. 124 180K floppy 0.1758 529
1980.00 3488.63 1980 Jan I.A. 123 204K floppy 0.1992 695
1981.00 1020.83 1981 Jan I.A. 141 Lobo 2x8" FD 8" floppy 1.2 1225
1982.00 289.21 1982 Jan I.A. 139 2x9.5MB HD 19 5495
1983.00 319.00 1983 Jan I.A. 153 5MD HD HD 5 1595
1984.00 566.04 1984 Jan I.A. 163 720K 3.5"FH floppy 0.7031 398
1985.00 31.39 1985 Jan BYTE 476 ? HD 140 4395
1986.00 24.45 1986 Jan BYTE 450 ? HD 20 489
1987.00 14.97 1987 Jan BYTE 409 ? HD 70.0 30 449
1988.00 9.97 1988 Jan BYTE 334 JDR Seagate ST-238 5.25"HH RLL 70.0 30 299
1989.00 7.48 1989 Jan BYTE 431 JDR Seagate ST-277 5.25"HH RLL 40.0 60 449
1990.00 5.28 1990 Jan BYTE 393 JDR Miniscribe M9380E 16.5 340 1795
1990.17 4.08 1990 Mar BYTE 335 Micropolis MC1568 16.0 660 2695
1990.50 3.27 1990 Jul BYTE 327 Compusave Imprimis 702 2295
1990.75 5.22 1990 Oct BYTE 350 Nevada Seagate ST227R-1 RLL 28.0 65 339
1991.00 4.25 1991 Jan BYTE 392 Nevada Connor 18.0 200 849
1991.17 3.07 1991 Mar BYTE 357 TP Enterprise Maxtor 8760E ESDI ? 650 1994
1991.50 2.80 1991 Jul BYTE 321 Computerlane Maxtor XT8760E 676 1895
1991.75 2.79 1991 Oct BYTE 305 Nevada Seagate ST1144A IDE 20.0 125 349
1992.00 1.96 1992 Jan BYTE 370 Microline Maxtor 1020 1995
1992.17 1.96 1992 Mar BYTE 335 Microline Maxtor SCSI 1020 1995
1992.50 1.62 1992 Jul BYTE 343 APS Technology Seagate WREN 1200 1949
1992.75 1.40 1992 Oct BYTE 297 APS Technology Fujitsu 2000 2799
1993.00 1.33 1993 Jan BYTE 295 Hard Drives International Micropolis MC1528-15 MC1528-15 15.0 1350 1799
1993.17 1.15 1993 Mar BYTE 221 Nevada Maxtor MX1175 SCSI 13.0 1500 1729
1993.50 0.973 1993 Jul BYTE 254 Worldwide Maxtor P117 SCSI 13.0 1500 1459
1993.75 0.718 1993 Oct BYTE 250 Worldwide Micropolis MC1528 SCSI 15.0 1350 969
1994.00 0.579 1994 Jan BYTE 273 SAG Electronics DEC DSP5200 SCSI 12.5 2000 1158
1994.17 0.657 1994 Mar BYTE 235 CompDiscW Micropolis MC1936 SCSI 11.0 3300 2169
1994.50 0.536 1994 Jul BYTE 240 SAG Electronics Quantum PD1088S 3.5 SCSI 10.0 1800 964
1994.75 0.433 1994 Oct BYTE 261 JDR Seagate ST410800N 5.25 SCSI 12.0 9000 3899
1995.00 0.267 1995 Jan BYTE 275 JDR Seagate ST410800N 5.25 SCSI 12.0 9000 2399
1995.17 0.339 1995 Mar BYTE 224 WorldWide Technologies Conner CFP4207S 3.5 SCSI 9.0 4200 1425
1995.50 0.248 1995 Jul BYTE 218 WorldWide Technologies Micropolis MC191AV 5.25 SCSI 10.0 9100 2259
1995.75 0.214 1995 Oct BYTE 216 WorldWide Technologies Conner CP1275 3.5 IDE 10.0 1300 278
1996.00 0.204 1996 Jan BYTE 184 WorldWide Technologies Samsung SA31274A 3.5 IDE 11.0 1270 259
1996.17 0.192 1996 Mar BYTE 183 WorldWide Technologies Conner CFS1275 3.5 IDE 10.0 1300 249
1996.50 0.128 1996 Jul BYTE 189 MegaHaus Quantum BF2500A 5.25 IDE 15.0 2500 319
1996.75 0.138 1996 Oct BYTE 177 LA Trade Maxtor 2.0GB 3.5 IDE 2000 276
1997.00 0.138 1997 Jan BYTE 156 LA Trade Maxtor 2.0GB 3.5 IDE 2000 276
1997.17 0.113 1997 Mar BYTE 158 LA Trade Western Digital 3.1GB 3.5 IDE 3100 349
1997.50 0.0567 1997 Jul Pcmag 384 DirtCheapDrives Quantum BF6510A 5.25 IDE 6510 369
1997.75 0.0484 1997 Oct21 Pcmag 309 DirtCheapDrives Quantum BF6510A 5.25 IDE 6510 315
1998.00 0.0353 1998 Jan 6 Pcmag 291 MegaHaus Quantum BF1200A 5.25 IDE 12056 425
1998.20 0.0298 1998 Mar24 Pcmag 288 MegaHaus Quantum BF1200A 5.25 IDE 12056 359
1998.45 0.0290 1998 Jun30 Pcmag 279 PC Mall Quantum BF1200A 5.25 IDE 12056 349
1998.75 0.0248 1998 Oct30 Pcmag 288 Micro Outlet Samsung 6.4GB 3.5 IDE 6400 159
1999.09 0.0226 1999 Feb9 Pcmag 243 PC Zone IBM 16.8GB 3.5 IDE - Ultra DMA 9.5 16800 379.98
1999.17 0.0187 1999 Mar23 Pcmag 218 firstsource.com Maxtor 13.6GB 3.5 IDE 13600 254.33
1999.50 0.0110 1999 Jul Pcmag 323 TigerDirect.com Quantum 19GB Bigfoot 5.25 IDE 19000 208.99
1999.75 1999 Oct19 Pcmag 208 Memory Liquidator n/a laptop 2.5 IDE 6000 289
2000.00 2000 Jan18 Pcmag 152 Corporate Computer Centre Seagate Elite 47GB 5.25 SCSI 47000 695
2000.17 2000 Mar21 Pcmag 207 Excel Corp n/a RAID 125GB SCSI 125000 5280
1999.75 0.0102 1999 Oct5 Pcmag 248 DirtCheapDrives Seagate ST317242A 3.5 IDE 17200 175
1999.90 0.0088 1999 Dec1 Pcmag 292 DirtCheapDrives Seagate ST317242A 3.5 IDE 17200 152
2000.34 0.0070 2000 May9 Pcmag 232 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor M94098U8 3.5 IDE 40000 279
2000.50 0.00585 2000 July Pcmag 211 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor M96147U8 3.5 IDE 61400 359
2000.75 0.00407 2000 Oct3 Pcmag 208 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor M33073U4 3.5 IDE 30700 125
2001.00 0.00385 2001 Jan2 Pcmag 154 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor M98196H8 3.5 IDE 81900 315
2001.17 0.00360 2001 Mar6 Pcmag 199 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor M98196H8 3.5 IDE 81900 295
2001.50 0.00275 2001 July Pcmag 190 DirtCheapDrives Western Digital WD600AB 3.5 IDE 60000 165
2001.75 0.00259 2001 Oct16 Pcmag 181 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor 4W10086 3.5 IDE-ATA100 100000 259
2002.08 0.00186 2002 Feb12 Pcmag 127 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor 4G160H8 3.5 IDE-ATA100 160000 298
2002.25 0.00174 2002 Apr9 Pcmag 126 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor 4G160J8 3.5 IDE-ATA133 160000 278
2002.33 0.00172 2002 May7 Pcmag 122 DirtCheapDrives Maxtor 4G160J8 3.5 IDE-ATA133 160000 275
2002.58 0.00166 2002 Aug2 Pcmag 171 Star Surplus 3.5 120000 199
2002.75 0.00122 2002 Oct1 Pcmag 146 HardDrive.com IBM 07N9219 3.5 IDE 120000 146
2003.17 0.00131 2003 Mar25 Pcmag 95 NewEgg.com Western Digital 3.5 Ultra ATA-100 8.9 81900 107
2003.58 0.00112 2003 Aug19 Pcmag 118 NewEgg.com Western Digital 3.5 IDE ATA-100 81900 92
2003.75 0.00106 2003 Oct1 Pcmag 114 NewEgg.com Western Digital 3.5 IDE ATA-100 81900 87
2004.00 0.000925 2004 Jan Pcmag 143 NewEgg.com Seagate Barracuda 3.5 SATA 120000 111
2004.17 0.000744 2004 Mar16 Pcmag 115 NewEgg.com Maxtor 7200 rpm 3.5 SATA 160000 119
2004.33 0.000825 2004 May4 Pcmag 19 NewEgg.com Seagate ST3120026A 3.5 120000 99
2004.42 0.000879 2004 Jun8 Pcmag 19 NewEgg.com Western Digital 80GB 7200 rpm 3.5 81900 72
2004.50 0.000679 2004 July Pcmag 44 PC Connect Seagate 200GB 3.5 200000 135.88
2004.67 0.000609 2004 Sep7 Pcmag 45 NewEgg.com Hitachi 160GB 7200 rpm 3.5 SATA 160000 97.50
2005.25 0.000876 2005 Apr12 Pcmag 24 NewEgg.com Maxtor external 250GB 3.5 250000 219
2005.42 0.000500 2005 Jun7 Pcmag 15 TigerDirect Western Digital 200GB, 7200 rpm 3.5 Ultra ATA-100 200000 99.99
2005.83 0.000623 2005 Nov8 Pcmag 67 NewEgg.com Seagate 400GB, 7200.8 3.5 ATA-150
2005.92 0.000406 2005 Dec6 Pcmag 139 NewEgg.com Western Digital 320GB 7,200 rpm, 8MB 3.5 320000 130
2006.33 0.000324 2006 May25 Web NewEgg.com Maxtor 250GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA 150 250000 80.97
2006.67 0.000219 2006 Sep1 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 320GB 7,200 rpm, 8MB 3.5 SATA 150 320000 69.99
2006.83 0.000264 2006 Nov25 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 250GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA 150 250000 65.93
2007.00 0.000280 2007 Jan28 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 320GB 7,200 rpm, 8MB 3.5 SATA-2 250000 69.99
2007.17 0.000265 2007 Mar15 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 400GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA-2 400000 105.93
2007.33 0.000250 2007 May7 Web NewEgg.com Seagate 320GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA-2 320000 79.99
2007.50 0.000212 2007 Jul9 Web NewEgg.com Samsung 400GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA-2 400000 84.99
2007.67 0.000210 2007 Sep30 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 500GB 7,200 rpm, 8MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 104.99
2007.75 0.000210 2007 Oct16 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 500GB 7,200 rpm, 8MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 104.99
2007.83 0.000200 2007 Nov10 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 500GB 7,200 rpm, 8MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 99.99
2007.92 0.000210 2007 Dec5 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 500GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 104.99
2008.00 0.000200 2008 Jan18 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 500GB 7,200 rpm, 8MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 99.99
2008.08 0.000200 2008 Feb20 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 500GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 99.99
2008.33 0.000180 2008 May18 Web NewEgg.com Samsung 500GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 89.99
2008.50 0.000150 2008 Jul7 Web NewEgg.com Western Digital 500GB 7,200 rpm, 16MB 3.5 SATA-2 500000 74.99

Flash Memory

X Y Year Month Ref: page Sales Company Manufacturer Model Size Type Speed Size Cost
date US$/MB MBytes US$
2003.17 0.258 2003 Mar25 Pcmag 95 NewEgg.com Samsung 128MB Flash Smart Media 128 33
2003.58 0.191 2003 Aug19 Pcmag 118 NewEgg.com Dana-Elec DA-CF256 256MB Flash Compact Flash 256 49
2003.75 0.219 2003 Oct1 Pcmag 114 NewEgg.com Delkin eFilm-256MB 256MB Flash Compact Flash 256 56
2004.00 0.191 2004 Jan Pcmag 146 pcclub.com Simpletech 256MB Flash Compact Flash 256 49
2004.17 0.238 2004 Mar16 Pcmag 115 NewEgg.com SanDisk 256MB Flash Compact Flash ultra II 256 61
2004.33 0.266 2004 May4 Pcmag 43 NewEgg.com SanDisk 256MB Flash Compact Flash ultra II 256 68
2004.42 0.223 2004 Jun8 Pcmag 37 NewEgg.com SanDisk 256MB Flash Compact Flash ultra II 256 57
2005.50 0.0762 2005 July Pcmag 55 Crucial.com Crucial 512MB Flash Compact Flash 512 38.99
2006.33 0.0219 2006 May25 Web NewEgg.com Transcend TS2GSDC 2GB Flash Secure Digital 2048 43.98
2006.67 0.0156 2006 Sep1 Web NewEgg.com Patriot 4GB Flash USB Flash Drive 4096 63.99
2006.83 0.0146 2006 Nov25 Web NewEgg.com PNY Attache 2GB Flash USB Flash Drive 2048 29.98
2007.00 0.0122 2007 Jan28 Web NewEgg.com Wintec Filemate 4GB Flash USB Flash Drive 4096 49.98
2007.17 0.0104 2007 Mar15 Web NewEgg.com Transcend TS8GCF120 8GB Flash Compact Flash 8192 84.98
2007.33 0.0105 2007 May7 Web NewEgg.com Kingston 2GBKR 2GB Flash Secure Data 2048 21.58
2007.50 0.00976 2007 July9 Web NewEgg.com R-Data 4GB SDHCR4G-LIG 4GB Flash Secure Data 4096 39.98
2007.67 0.00805 2007 Sep30 Web NewEgg.com A-Data 4GB SDHC 4GB Flash Secure Data HC 150X 4096 32.98
2007.75 0.00763 2007 Oct16 Web NewEgg.com A-Data 16GB Flash Compact Flash 40X 16384 124.98
2007.83 0.00732 2007 Nov10 Web NewEgg.com Corsair 4GB Voyager CMFUSB 8GB Flash USB 2.0 4096 29.99
2007.92 0.00763 2007 Dec5 Web NewEgg.com Corsair 16GB CMFUSB2.0 16GB Flash USB2.0 16384 124.99
2008.00 0.00458 2008 Jan18 Web NewEgg.com A-Data 16GB Flash Secure Data 16384 74.98
2008.08 0.00463 2008 Feb20 Web NewEgg.com PQi BK02-4033R0131 4GB Flash USB 2.0 4096 18.98
2008.33 0.00415 2008 May18 Web NewEgg.com A-Data 16GB Turbo SDHC 16GB Flash Secure Data HC 16384 67.98
2008.50 0.00354 2008 Jul7 Web NewEgg.com A-Data 16GB Turbo SDHC 16GB Flash Secure Data HC 16384 57.98

Data Last Updated on 2008 July 21
Page Last Updated on 2008 July 21
copyright 2001, 2008, John C. McCallum
You can use the contents here. Please acknowledge the source.